Treatment for Lichen Planus

Dr K S Prasanna, Dermatologist, Institute of Applied Dermatology, Kasaragod, Kerala

Lichen Planus- An Inflammatory Skin Condition

It is an inflammatory disease of the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membrane. It is a common itchy skin disease observed commonly in middle-aged adults. The patients have pruritic, raised lesions that are often violaceous in colour. 

Lichen Planus - Common Cause

It is an inflammatory disease of the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membrane. It is a common itchy skin disease observed commonly in middle-aged adults. The patients have pruritic, raised lesions that are often violaceous in colour. Lichen planus is usually not harmful and may get better with treatment.  However, it may last for weeks to months and may come and go for years. It usually clears up within 18 months. If lichen planus is caused by a medication, the rash should go away once the medicine is stopped. This disease can develop in one or several parts of the body. It can appear on the skin or inside the mouth, finger and toenails, genitals, or scalp.

• Some medicines can cause a rash that looks like lichen planus. These medicines include diuretics, antihypertensives, painkillers, and medicine that was taken to prevent malaria. Be sure to tell your dermatologist about every medicine that you have taken in recent time.
• In the mouth, a metal filling may be the cause. This is rare, but it can happen. If this is the cause, replacing the metal filling with a non-metal filling will get rid of the lichen planus.
• A rare type of lichen planus, familial bullous lichen planus, runs in families. Other forms of lichen planus do not seem to run in families.

There may be a link between lichen planus and infection with the hepatitis C virus. Many people with hepatitis C also have lichen planus. Your dermatologist may check to see whether you have this virus.

Integrated Treatment for Lichen Planus 

Most dermatologists have experience in treating this disease. However, the challenge is to manage a recurrent disease and in those patients who have associated diabetes and/or high blood pressure. This is because the allopathic treatment for this disease is mainly immunosuppressive or steroids. IAD's integrated treatment is useful in conditions where the immunosuppressive and steroids can't be administered, those patients who have associated diabetes or hypertension, etc.

The treatment is given based on local examination and study of the body constitution. Antihistamines of allopathy are co-administered to control itching during the treatment period.